These Midlands school districts want to remain closed for the rest of the school year
Midlands school districts do not think it is a good idea to reopen before the end of the school year, officials said.
In a S.C. Department of Education survey, Superintendents from Richland 1 (southern and western Richland County), Richland 2 (northeast Richland County), Lexington 1 (central and southern Lexington County) and Kershaw County school districts said they think school should remain closed for the remainder of the academic year, officials from the districts told The State.
“We feel that it would be impossible to maintain social distancing within our schools,” said Lexington 1 spokeswoman Mary Beth Hill.
One area that has been a sticking point with bringing students back to school is school buses, where social distancing is not practical, said Richland 2 spokeswoman Libby Roof.
“Returning to normal operations is almost impossible” before the end of the school year, Roof said.
With only a few weeks left of school, the risk is not worth the reward, said Kershaw County school district spokeswoman Mary Anne Byrd.
Officials plan to announce by the end of the week whether S.C. K-12 schools will remain closed through the end of the year, according to a previous article from The State. About 59 percent of superintendents throughout the state agreed with their Midlands counterparts that school should remain closed through the end of the year, according to the survey results.
The State reached out to all of the public school districts in Lexington and Richland counties, but those not listed had either not responded or provided an answer.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published April 21, 2020 at 1:43 PM.